JP6003351B2 - Exhaust purification device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an exhaust emission control device provided in an exhaust passage of an engine.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) containing nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂ ) are contained in exhaust gas emitted from gasoline engines, lean burn engines, diesel engines, and the like. Conventionally, a NOx trap catalyst (occlusion reduction catalyst) is known as an exhaust purification catalyst for purifying these NOx.

  The NOx trap catalyst stores NOx (nitrogen oxide) in exhaust gas in a lean atmosphere with a relatively high oxygen concentration, and reduces the NOx to nitrogen in a rich atmosphere. Corresponding to these functions, on the NOx trap catalyst, an occlusion material responsible for the NOx occlusion function, a noble metal element responsible for the reduction function, and the like are supported. The occlusion material is, for example, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a rare earth element, and NOx is held in the form of nitrate on the surface of the occlusion material.

The storage capacity of the NOx trap catalyst is strongly dependent on the temperature stability of the nitrate retained on the NOx trap catalyst. For example, in a NOx trap catalyst in which barium is supported as an occlusion material, NOx is mainly retained in the form of barium nitrate [Ba (NO ₃ ) ₂ ], so the temperature range near its decomposition temperature of 592 [° C] So you can't keep NOx. Even if the catalyst temperature is lower than the decomposition temperature, the higher the catalyst temperature, the lower the NOx storage capacity.

  As described above, the NOx trap catalyst having an occlusion material that occludes NOx in the form of nitrate has a characteristic that the occlusion ability in a high temperature range where the temperature stability of nitrate is lowered is lowered and it is difficult to improve NOx purification performance. . Therefore, in the conventional NOx trap catalyst, the exhaust gas temperature is controlled so that the catalyst temperature does not deviate from the predetermined temperature range, and the NOx purification performance is maintained (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, a conventional NOx purification method that repeats NOx occlusion and reduction by periodically changing the exhaust air-fuel ratio is referred to as “normal NOx purge control”.

JP 2010-24957 A

  By the way, with the recent tightening of global automobile exhaust gas regulations, it is required to improve the NOx purification performance in the operation region where the catalyst temperature exceeds the existing control temperature range. In a test for proving conformity with exhaust gas regulations, for example, exhaust gas is collected when a vehicle is driven at a speed and time imitating an actual driving pattern, and its components are measured. A control pattern such as a running speed, a running time, an engine rotation speed, and a torque when the vehicle is run by imitating an actual running pattern in this test is called a “test mode”.

  In the test mode, various types of control patterns are prepared, such as those simulating driving patterns during cold start, those simulating highway driving, and simulating driving in the morning commuting hours. Here, part of the test mode for a passenger car and a light commercial vehicle is illustrated in FIG.

The broken line graph in FIG. 9A is a graph showing the relationship between the traveling speed and the traveling time corresponding to the test mode defined by the current exhaust gas regulations. This test mode, the traveling speed of the vehicle has increased stepwise, time X ₁ up to the maximum speed from a predetermined speed is a relatively long time. On the other hand, the solid line graph is a graph showing the relationship between the traveling speed and traveling time that can occur in actual traveling.

In this actual traveling pattern, the traveling speed of the vehicle increases at a stroke in a time X ₂ shorter than the previous reference. That is, the load acting on the engine concentrates in a short time, and the exhaust temperature rises compared to the current test mode. In view of the current state of legal regulations aimed at reducing exhaust gas in a state closer to actual driving, future exhaust gas regulations will generate in a short time with a higher exhaust temperature. It is expected that emissions of exhaust gas components will be required to comply with legal standards.

  In order to deal with such a problem, a method for suppressing a decrease in the NOx purification rate by reducing the purge interval of the normal NOx purge control has been proposed. That is, the period of the lean atmosphere in which NOx is occluded is shortened by the amount that the NOx occlusion performance has decreased as the temperature rises, and NOx occlusion and reduction are periodically performed in small units. By adopting such a method, an average high NOx purification rate can be maintained even in a high-temperature environment, and the exhaust performance can be improved.

  However, simply shortening the period of the lean atmosphere in the conventional normal NOx purge control increases the relative length of the rich atmosphere period with respect to the lean atmosphere period, which may deteriorate the fuel consumption. In addition, by shortening the period of the lean atmosphere, the absolute amount of NOx stored in the NOx trap catalyst decreases, so the unburned fuel component in the exhaust tends to be excessively supplied, and the unburned fuel component to the downstream side of the catalyst There is also a problem that the outflow amount (slip hydrocarbon amount) tends to increase greatly.

  On the other hand, in order to avoid such a problem, it is also conceivable to shorten the rich atmosphere period. However, in this case, the hydrocarbon concentration in the vicinity of the NOx trap catalyst tends to decrease, it becomes difficult to properly maintain the storage reduction cycle in the NOx trap catalyst, and the NOx purification rate may be significantly reduced.

  One of the objects of the present invention was devised in view of the above-described problems, and provides an exhaust purification device capable of suppressing a decrease in the NOx purification rate of a catalyst and maintaining high purification performance. That is. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this purpose, and is a function and effect derived from each configuration shown in the embodiment for carrying out the invention described later, and can also provide a function and effect that cannot be obtained by conventional techniques. Can be positioned as

(1) An exhaust emission control device disclosed herein is provided in an exhaust passage of an engine, stores a nitrogen oxide in exhaust gas under an oxidizing atmosphere and reduces it under a reducing atmosphere, and an upstream side of the catalyst. An injection valve that is provided in the exhaust passage and supplies the nitrogen oxide reducing agent.
Further, the periodically changing the first rich period and the first lean period fuel ratio, injecting the reducing agent is repeated multiple times opening and closing of Oite the injection valve to the first rich period Normal control means for performing normal control is provided. Further, the air-fuel ratio is periodically changed to the second rich period and the second lean period in a shorter cycle than the normal control, and the second rich period and the valve opening period of the injection valve are the same. comprising a short-cycle control means for performing short-cycle control such that. That is, the number of injections from the injection valve in the second rich period (once) in the short cycle control is one.
The first rich period means a period in which the air-fuel ratio is controlled in the rich direction in the normal control, and the first lean period is a control in which the air-fuel ratio is controlled in the lean direction in the normal control. Means the period.
The second rich period means a period in which the air-fuel ratio is controlled in the rich direction in the short cycle control, and the second lean period means that the air-fuel ratio is in the lean direction in the short cycle control. Means a period controlled by

  The catalyst is a NOx trap catalyst (occlusion reduction catalyst) on which an occlusion material responsible for the storage function of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and a noble metal element responsible for a reduction function are supported. The occlusion material is, for example, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth element, or the like. The nitrogen oxide is held in the form of nitrate on the surface of the occlusion material.

Further, the phrase “the number of injections is multiple” here means that the injection valve injects fuel intermittently during the rich period. For example, when the pulse width modulation method is used, the valve opening time of the injection valve during the rich period is controlled by the width and interval (for example, duty ratio) of the pulse signal.
On the other hand, “the number of injections is one” here means that the injection valve does not close during the rich period. That is, in the short cycle control, the rich period coincides with the valve opening time of the injection valve.

Further, the short period control is performed by setting the rich period (period of reducing atmosphere in which the air-fuel ratio is rich) and lean period (period of oxidizing atmosphere in which the air-fuel ratio is lean) as R ₀ and L ₀ , respectively, in the normal control. If the rich period and the lean period are set to R ₁ and L ₁ , respectively, it is preferable to set the respective periods within the following ranges. 10 ≦ R ₁ ≦ 300 [ms], 0.5 ≦ L ₁ ≦ 3.0 [s], R ₁ <R ₀ , L ₁ <L ₀ .
It is preferable to set each period so that at least the following inequality is satisfied. R ₁ + L ₁ <R ₀ + L ₀ .

(2) Further, the normal control means performs the normal control when the exhaust temperature flowing into the catalyst is lower than a predetermined temperature, and the short cycle control means is configured when the exhaust temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature. It is preferable to implement the short cycle control.
The predetermined temperature is preferably a temperature at which the decomposition rate of nitrate, which is a form during storage of nitrogen oxides, is equal to or higher than a predetermined rate.

  For example, it is a temperature at which the thermal dissociation rate of nitrate is equal to or higher than a predetermined rate, or a temperature at which the melting rate or melting rate of nitrate is higher than a predetermined value. The predetermined temperature is included in a temperature range higher than the temperature at which the storage rate of nitrogen oxides in the catalyst is maximum, and is included in a temperature range lower than the catalyst heat resistance temperature. Specifically, the predetermined temperature is preferably set between 400 and 650 [° C.]. Note that barium nitrate, which is one of nitrates, has a melting point of about 592 [° C.], and is oxidized and decomposed near the melting point.

(3) Moreover, it is preferable that the said normal control means and the said short cycle control means estimate the said exhaust gas temperature based on the valve opening time or valve closing time of the said injection valve. The valve opening time and the valve closing time correspond to, for example, a rich period and a lean period in the normal control and the short cycle control.
(4) Further , during the normal control, the injection valve is controlled by the ratio of the valve opening period and the valve closing period of the fuel injection valve in the first rich period, and during the short cycle control, It is preferable that the injection valve is controlled during the valve opening period of the fuel injection valve in the second rich period.
In other words, it is preferable that the normal control means controls the injection valve in the first rich period by adjusting a ratio between the valve opening time and the valve closing time of the injection valve in the normal control . Moreover , it is preferable that the short cycle control means controls the injection valve in the second rich period by adjusting a valve opening time of the injection valve in the short cycle control. The ratio between the valve opening time and the valve closing time is, for example, a duty ratio of pulse width modulation.

(5) When the purification rate of the nitrogen oxides by the short cycle control is less than a predetermined purification rate, the rich period is extended as compared to the short cycle control and the air-fuel ratio is periodically changed. It is preferable to provide recovery control means for performing recovery control in which the number of injections from the injection valve during the rich period is multiple.
When the exhaust temperature and the catalyst temperature become high, the nitrate is likely to be thermally dissociated or melted, and the amount of occlusion in the catalyst decreases. On the other hand, even if the exhaust gas temperature and the catalyst temperature are high, the adsorption action of nitrogen oxide on the catalyst continues with a slight amount. Therefore, the purification rate of nitrogen oxide is improved by purifying the nitrogen oxide adsorbed on the catalyst in a short cycle.

(6) Moreover, it is preferable that the said recovery control means maintains the average air fuel ratio in said recovery control at stoichiometric or rich.
The average air-fuel ratio here means an air-fuel ratio obtained by averaging the air-fuel ratio in the rich period and the air-fuel ratio in the lean period. In addition, the stoichiometric here is an air-fuel ratio at which the average oxygen concentration on the downstream side of the catalyst is at least 1 [%] or less, strictly speaking, an air-fuel ratio (slightly leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio). Included). That is, it is preferable that the recovery control means maintain an average air-fuel ratio at least such that the average oxygen concentration on the downstream side of the catalyst is 1% or less.

  (7) In addition, it is preferable that the normal control unit and the short cycle control unit maintain an average air-fuel ratio during the normal control and the short cycle control to be lean.

  According to the disclosed exhaust purification apparatus, since the number of injections in the short cycle control is once for each rich period, the inside of the catalyst is greatly enriched to temporarily reduce the active reducing agent (for example, partially oxidized hydrocarbon). The generation of can be promoted. Thereby, nitrogen oxides adsorbed on the catalyst and nitrogen oxides present in the vicinity of the catalyst can be efficiently reduced, and nitrogen oxides can be purified even during a short period. Therefore, even if the total fuel injection amount in the rich period is the same, the purification rate of nitrogen oxides can be improved as compared with the case where the number of injections is divided into a plurality of times.

  Further, in normal control, it is possible to purify nitrogen oxides utilizing the occlusion action of the catalyst. On the other hand, in the short cycle control, nitrogen oxides adsorbed on the catalyst can be purified in small units. Therefore, the purification rate of nitrogen oxides can be improved regardless of which control is performed.

It is a mimetic diagram illustrating the composition of the exhaust emission control device concerning one embodiment. 5 is a graph illustrating a control pattern of a target air-fuel ratio controlled by the exhaust purification device, where (a) is a control pattern during normal NOx purge control, (b) is a control pattern during short-cycle NOx purge control, and (c). Is a control pattern during recovery control. It is a graph for demonstrating the control method of an air fuel ratio, (a) is a drive signal at the time of normal NOx purge control and recovery control, (b) is a target air fuel ratio at the time of normal NOx purge control and recovery control, ( c) shows the target air-fuel ratio at the time of short-cycle NOx purge control. 4 is a graph illustrating temperature characteristics of a NOx trap catalyst, where (a) is a graph showing the correlation between the NOx purification rate E and the catalyst temperature T, and (b) is a graph showing the correlation between the NOx concentration and the catalyst temperature T. FIG. It is a flowchart which illustrates the control procedure by an exhaust gas purification apparatus. It is a flowchart which illustrates the control procedure by an exhaust gas purification apparatus. It is a time chart for explaining the control action of the exhaust purification device, (a) is the exhaust temperature, (b) is the success or failure of the execution condition of the short-cycle NOx purge control, (c) is the NOx purification rate, (d) is The state of the recovery control execution flag, (e) shows the target air-fuel ratio. It is a graph for demonstrating the difference in the drive method of the injector in an exhaust pipe in an exhaust-gas purification apparatus, and the difference in the effect derived from it, (a) shows the relationship between fuel injection quantity and an average air fuel ratio, (b) The relationship between the fuel injection amount and the catalyst temperature T is shown, and (c) shows the relationship between the fuel injection amount and the NOx purification rate E. (A) is a graph schematically showing a part of a test mode of exhaust gas regulation, and (b) is a graph showing the correlation between the duration of short cycle NOx purge control and the NOx purification rate.

  An exhaust emission control device will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and technical applications that are not explicitly described in the following embodiment. Each configuration of the present embodiment can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present embodiment, and can be selected or combined as necessary.

[1. Device configuration]
The exhaust gas purification apparatus (exhaust gas purification system) of the present embodiment is applied as a device that purifies exhaust gas from a diesel engine 10 mounted on a vehicle. FIG. 1 shows one of a plurality of cylinders 11 (cylinders) provided in the engine 10. An injector (fuel injection valve) for fuel injection is provided on the upper portion of the cylinder 11. The tip of the injector is provided toward the combustion chamber 13 and injects fuel directly into each cylinder 11.

An oxidation catalyst 8 and a NOx trap catalyst 9 (storage reduction catalyst, catalyst) are interposed in the exhaust passage 15 of the engine 10. The oxidation catalyst 8 is a catalyst (DOC; Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) that contains a catalytic noble metal on its surface and has an oxidizing ability for components in exhaust gas. Examples of components in the exhaust gas oxidized by the oxidation catalyst 8 include nitrogen oxide (NO), hydrocarbons in unburned fuel, and the like. Nitrogen oxide becomes nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂ ) on the oxidation catalyst 8, and the hydrocarbon changes into carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and water (H ₂ O) with heat generation on the oxidation catalyst 8.

The NOx trap catalyst 9 (catalyst) is a catalyst in which an occlusion material responsible for NOx occlusion and a noble metal element or the like responsible for a reduction function are supported on the catalyst surface. The occlusion material is, for example, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a rare earth element, and NOx is held in the form of nitrate (NO ₃ ⁻ ) on the surface of these occlusion materials. The NOx trap catalyst 9 occludes NOx in exhaust gas in a lean atmosphere (oxidizing atmosphere) having a relatively high oxygen concentration, and reduces the NOx to nitrogen in a rich atmosphere (reducing atmosphere).

  The lean atmosphere here means the exhaust state when the air-fuel ratio is lean and the air-fuel ratio burns, that is, the oxygen concentration in the exhaust is relative to the concentration of the reducing component (hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, etc.). Means a relatively high state. The rich atmosphere means an exhaust state when the air-fuel ratio rich air-fuel mixture is burned. This is a state in which the concentration of the reducing component in the exhaust gas is relatively high with respect to the oxygen concentration, and the oxygen concentration (absolute concentration) is not more than a predetermined concentration (for example, less than 0.1 [%]). The stoichiometric atmosphere means an exhaust state when an air-fuel mixture having an air-fuel ratio of stoichiometric (theoretical air-fuel ratio) is burned. In this case, the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is around 0.1 [%].

An exhaust pipe injector 7 (injection valve) is provided in the exhaust passage 15 upstream of the oxidation catalyst 8. The in-pipe injector 7 supplies and injects unburned fuel that serves as a reducing agent for NOx in the NOx trap catalyst 9 into the exhaust. The unburned fuel is the same as the fuel injected from the injector provided in the cylinder. When the unburned fuel injected here is combined with oxygen in the exhaust gas and oxidized on the surfaces of the oxidation catalyst 8 and the NOx trap catalyst 9, the exhaust temperature rises. The unburned fuel functions to reduce NOx to nitrogen (N ₂ ) in the vicinity of the NOx trap catalyst 9.

  An exhaust temperature sensor 16 is provided in the exhaust passage 15 between the oxidation catalyst 8 and the NOx trap catalyst 9, and a NOx sensor 17 is provided in the exhaust passage 15 downstream of the NOx trap catalyst 9. The exhaust temperature sensor 16 detects the exhaust temperature G of the exhaust flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9. The NOx sensor 17 detects the NOx concentration in the exhaust. Information on the exhaust gas temperature G and the NOx concentration detected by these sensors is transmitted to the control device 1.

[2. Overview of control]
The control device 1 controls the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas in the exhaust passage 15 based on the exhaust gas temperature G detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 16, the NOx concentration detected by the NOx sensor 17, and the like. In the present embodiment, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust is controlled by adjusting the amount of fuel injected from the exhaust pipe injector 7 and the fuel injection timing. Since the exhaust pipe injector 7 does not directly affect the output or operating state of the engine 10, the fuel injection amount and the injection timing can be set relatively freely.

  Hereinafter, the control for purifying NOx by the NOx trap catalyst 9 among the control performed by the control device 1 will be described in detail. The control device 1 performs three types of control: normal NOx purge control, short cycle NOx purge control, and recovery control.

[2-1. Normal NOx purge control]
Normal NOx purge control (normal control) is a control in which the NOx occlusion operation to the NOx trap catalyst 9 and the NOx reduction operation are repeatedly performed by periodically changing the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas in the rich direction and the lean direction. It is. In the normal NOx purge control, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), together with the lean period in which the target air-fuel ratio is a value AF ₁ lean is set to L _0, the target air-fuel ratio is rich value AF ₂ The rich period to be performed is set to _R0 . The average target air-fuel ratio (average air-fuel ratio) in the lean period L ₀ and the rich period R ₀ is lean. Specifically, the lean period L ₀ is set to about several tens of seconds to several hundred seconds (for example, 30 seconds), and the rich period R ₀ is about 1/10 to 1/100 of the lean period L ₀ (for example, 1.5 seconds). Set to

The minimum value of the lean period L ₀ of the normal NOx purge control is preferably NOx at least in the exhaust gas to the length that can be occluded in the form of nitrates against occlusion material of the NOx trap catalyst 9. On the other hand, the maximum value of the lean period L ₀ is can be appropriately set according to the loading amount of the absorbing performance and storage material in the NOx trap catalyst 9 (maximum storage amount), and the like.

Further, in the normal NOx purge control, control is performed to switch the valve opening and closing of the exhaust pipe injector 7 at high speed so that the number of injections from the exhaust pipe injector 7 in the rich period R ₀ is multiple. The Here, a pulse signal is used as a drive signal for controlling the valve opening state and valve closing state of the in-pipe injector 7.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the pulse signal is a signal having a shape in which a plurality of square waves having different wave widths are connected. The exhaust pipe injector 7 is closed when the pulse signal is 0 (off), and is opened when the pulse signal is 1 (on). As described above, the valve open state and the valve closed state of the in-pipe injector 7 are made to correspond to ON / OFF of the pulse signal, and the ratio between the pulse width (ON width) and the pulse interval (OFF width) is changed. The control that freely adjusts the average opening of the exhaust pipe injector 7 is called PWM control (Pulse Width Modulation).

  Further, the ratio of the pulse width to the total wave width of the pulse width and the pulse interval is called a duty ratio. Note that there is a correlation between the ratio of “pulse width to wave width” and the ratio of “pulse width to pulse interval”, so even if PWM control is performed using the latter ratio instead of the former ratio. Well, it will exhibit substantially the same actions and effects.

The period C ₀ of the drive signal for the injector 7 in the exhaust pipe during normal NOx purge control (a time corresponding to the sum of the ON width and the OFF width) is set according to the characteristics and type of the injector 7 in the exhaust pipe. . If it is a variable cycle type injector, it may be set as appropriate according to the exhaust flow rate, the intake flow rate, the operating state of the engine 10, etc., and if it is a fixed cycle type injector, it may be set to a preset cycle. In the present embodiment, the period C ₀ is set to a fixed value of several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds (for example, 25 [ms]).

[2-2. Short cycle NOx purge control]
The short cycle NOx purge control (short cycle control) is a control in which the air-fuel ratio is changed in a shorter cycle than the normal NOx purge control, and the NOx adsorption operation to the NOx trap catalyst 9 and the NOx reduction operation are repeatedly performed. It is. That is, in the short-cycle NOx purge control, NOx is reduced and purified not only by storing NOx in the storage material but also by using the adsorption operation on the surface of the NOx trap catalyst.

  The NOx adsorption action on the NOx trap catalyst 9 is weaker than the occlusion action, and the maximum adsorption amount of NOx is smaller than the maximum occlusion quantity. On the other hand, this adsorption action proceeds even in a high temperature range where nitrate is decomposed. Therefore, it is possible to secure a high NOx purification rate by changing the exhaust air-fuel ratio in a short period using the adsorption action.

The short cycle NOx purge control, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), together with the lean period in which the target air-fuel ratio is a value AF ₁ lean is set to L _1, the target air-fuel ratio is rich value AF ₂ rich period to be is set to R _1. Lean period L _1, each of the target air-fuel ratio AF _1, AF ₂ rich period R ₁ may be the respective identical to the target air-fuel ratio AF _1, AF ₂ in the normal NOx purge control, different values Also good. The specific length of these periods is set such that the lean period L ₁ is about 0.5 to 3.0 seconds (for example, 2.0 seconds), and the rich period R ₁ is about 1/10 to 1/100 of the lean period L _1. Or about 10 to 300 milliseconds (for example, 0.1 seconds). Note that the average target air-fuel ratio (average air-fuel ratio) in the lean period L ₁ and the rich period R ₁ is lean, and is preferably set to the same target value as the average target air-fuel ratio during normal NOx purge control.

Further, in the short cycle NOx purge control, the valve opening time of the exhaust pipe injector 7 is controlled so that the number of injections from the exhaust pipe injector 7 in _one rich period R ₁ is one. That is, when the control short period NOx purge is not implemented PWM control during the rich period R ₁ has the state of being open is maintained. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the pulse width C ₁ of the drive signal for the exhaust pipe injector 7 at the time of the short-cycle NOx purge coincides with the rich period R ₁ . Control in which the valve opening time of the in-pipe injector 7 is made to coincide with the rich period R ₁ is called single control.

In PWM control, the time during which fuel is actually injected and the time during which fuel is not injected are alternately repeated. Therefore, the air-fuel ratio is relatively reduced by gas mixing between the in-pipe injector 7 and the NOx trap catalyst 9. Lean. On the other hand, in the single control, the progress of such mixing is suppressed, and the instantaneous air-fuel ratio during the rich period R ₁ (the time for one cycle is determined as a unit time by the drive signal of the exhaust pipe injector 7 as compared with the PWM control). The air / fuel ratio) is relatively enriched. With such a richening action, partial oxidation of hydrocarbons in the oxidation catalyst 8 and the NOx trap catalyst 9 is promoted, and the concentration of the highly active reducing agent component (partial oxidation HC) in the exhaust gas increases.

The minimum value of the lean period L ₁ of the short-cycle NOx purge control is arbitrary. However, if the frequency per unit of time the target air-fuel ratio is increased by shortening the lean period L _1, the percentage of wasted fuel occupying the actual fuel injection amount is increased, fuel consumption is reduced. Therefore, it may be determined the minimum value of the lean period L ₁ in accordance with the goals values of fuel consumption. Further, the maximum value of the lean period L ₁ can be set as appropriate according to the adsorption performance, surface area, noble metal loading amount, etc. of the NOx trap catalyst 9.

Since the catalyst temperature T is likely to increase as the lean period L ₁ is shorter, the lean period L ₁ is set according to the catalyst temperature T and the exhaust temperature G (that is, the average target according to the catalyst temperature T and the exhaust temperature G). The air-fuel ratio may be adjusted). In this case, as the catalyst temperature T and the exhaust gas temperature G are higher, the lean period L ₁ is extended at least in a range where the average target air-fuel ratio becomes lean, and as the catalyst temperature T and the exhaust gas temperature G are lower, the lean period L is increased. You can shorten _one . Further, the catalyst temperature T, if the average target air-fuel ratio to the extent that the exhaust temperature G does not rise is set to increase lean closer it may be a lean period L ₁ and a fixed value.

[2-3. Recovery control]
When the present inventors investigated the correlation between the continuous execution time of the short-cycle NOx purge control and the NOx purification rate E, as shown in FIG. 9B, the NOx purification rate E increases as the continuous execution time increases. Turned out to be lower. In addition, the rate of decrease of the NOx purification rate E is extremely large compared to the deterioration rate of the noble metal catalyst supported on the NOx trap catalyst 9 and the progress rate of sulfur poisoning, and at least the continuous execution time of the short cycle NOx purge control. However, it has been clarified that the NOx purification rate may be greatly reduced when tens of hours to several hours.

  The graph of FIG. 9B shows the fluctuation of the NOx purification rate E under the temperature condition in which the catalyst temperature T of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is constant. Such a sharp decrease in the NOx purification rate E is a phenomenon that cannot be seen during normal NOx purification mainly using the occlusion action.

  The recovery control is a control for recovering the performance of the NOx trap catalyst 9 on the basis of the correlation between the short cycle NOx purge control and the NOx purification rate, and extends the rich period more than the short cycle NOx purge control. This control is to periodically change the air-fuel ratio. The average target air-fuel ratio (average air-fuel ratio) at the time of recovery control is an air-fuel ratio that maintains the reducing atmosphere in the vicinity of the NOx trap catalyst 9, and is specifically stoichiometric or rich, preferably rich. The stoichiometry here is an air-fuel ratio in which the average oxygen concentration at the upstream side or downstream side of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is at least 1.0 [%] or less, strictly speaking, an air-fuel ratio slightly leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. (Slight Lean) is included.

This recovery control, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), together with the lean period in which the target air-fuel ratio is a value AF ₁ lean is set to L _2, is the target air-fuel ratio is rich value AF ₂ rich period is set to R _2. Lean period L _2, each of the target air-fuel ratio AF _1, AF ₂ of the rich period R _2, even normal, respectively the same as the target air-fuel ratio AF _1, AF ₂ in NOx purge control and the short-cycle NOx purge control It is good also as a different value.

The length of the concrete these periods is at least rich period R ₂ is longer than the rich period R ₁ short period NOx purge control, set to 10 to 500 times the rich period R ₁ (e.g., 15 seconds) . Further, the lean period L ₂ is set to the lean period L ₂ and the length corresponding to the average target air-fuel ratio of the rich period of R ₂ total (e.g. 3 seconds). By such setting, the atmosphere in the vicinity of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is maintained in a reducing atmosphere on average, and NOx is easily reduced, and the NOx purification rate in the NOx trap catalyst 9 is recovered.

Also, the recovery control, the injection frequency from the exhaust pipe injector 7 in a single rich period R ₂ is such that a plurality of times, control for switching the opening and closing of the exhaust pipe injector 7 at high speed is performed. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the PWM control using the same pulse signal as that in the normal NOx purge control as the drive signal is performed. Period C ₂ of the drive signal when the recovery control may be one which differs from either a general identical to the period C ₀ of the drive signal during NOx purge control. In the present embodiment, the period C ₂ is a fixed value of several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds (for example, 25 [ms]), and is set to the same value as the period C ₀ .

Also in the recovery control, as in the short-cycle NOx purge control, the lean period L ₂ may be set according to the catalyst temperature T and the exhaust gas temperature G (that is, the average target air-fuel ratio is adjusted according to the catalyst temperature T). . In this case, as the catalyst temperature T, exhaust gas temperature G is at high temperature, extending the lean period L ₂ to the extent that at least an average target air-fuel ratio becomes stoichiometric or rich, lean as the catalyst temperature T, exhaust gas temperature G is at a low temperature The period L ₂ may be shortened. Thereby, the excessive temperature rise of the catalyst temperature T and the exhaust gas temperature G is suppressed, and the catalyst temperature T and the exhaust gas temperature G can be easily maintained in a temperature range having a substantially constant width.

The relationship between the rich period, the lean period, and the period of the drive signal for the above three types of control is summarized as follows.
Rich period: R ₁ <R ₂ , R ₁ <R ₀
Lean period: L ₁ <L ₂ , L ₁ <L ₀
Drive signal cycle: C ₀ <C ₁ , C ₂ <C ₁

[3. Configuration of control device]
In order to perform the above three types of control, the control device 1 is provided with a catalyst temperature calculation unit 2, a purification rate calculation unit 3, a normal control unit 4, a short cycle control unit 5, and a recovery control unit 6. Each of these elements may be realized by an electronic circuit (hardware), or may be programmed as software, or some of these functions may be provided as hardware, and the other part may be software. It may be what.

  The catalyst temperature calculation unit 2 estimates the catalyst temperature T of the NOx trap catalyst 9 based on the information of the exhaust gas temperature G detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 16. The exhaust temperature G detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 16 corresponds to the temperature of the gas flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9. Therefore, the catalyst temperature T can be estimated based on the correspondence relationship between the exhaust gas temperature G and the catalyst temperature T. Information on the catalyst temperature T calculated here is transmitted to the short cycle control unit 5 and the recovery control unit 6.

  A specific method for estimating the catalyst temperature T is arbitrary. For example, a temperature sensor may be provided on the downstream side of the NOx trap catalyst 9, and the catalyst temperature T may be estimated based on the detection result of the temperature sensor. is there. Alternatively, the exhaust temperature G is estimated based on the operating state of the engine 10 (fuel injection amount, engine rotation speed, exhaust flow rate, intake flow rate, engine load, outside air temperature, engine temperature, etc.), and the NOx trap catalyst 9 is based on this. The catalyst temperature T may be estimated.

The purification rate calculation unit 3 calculates the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9. Here, two types of calculation methods are illustrated.
The first method is to calculate the NOx purification rate E based on the NOx concentration in the exhaust gas detected by the NOx sensor 17. In this case, first, an estimated value of NOx concentration in the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9 is calculated from the detection information of the NOx sensor 17. Subsequently, NOx corresponding to the concentration difference between the NOx concentration estimated value and the NOx concentration detected by the NOx sensor 17 is considered to have been purified by the NOx trap catalyst 9, and the ratio of the concentration difference to the NOx concentration estimated value is Calculated as the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9.

  The second method estimates the NOx purification rate E based on the control execution time. As shown in FIG. 9B, a negative correlation is observed between the continuous execution time of the short cycle NOx purge control and the NOx purification rate E. Based on such correlation, the NOx purification rate E is calculated from the cumulative execution time A of the short-cycle NOx purge control. Similarly, the NOx purification rate E can be calculated from the cumulative execution time B of the recovery control using the correlation between the duration of the recovery control and the NOx purification rate E. Information on the NOx purification rate E calculated here is transmitted to the recovery control unit 6.

The normal control unit 4 (normal control means) performs normal NOx purge control. Here, the normal NOx purge control is performed when the engine 10 is in operation and the short-cycle NOx purge control and the recovery control are not performed. The normal control unit 4 performs normal NOx purge control when, for example, the catalyst temperature T of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature _TTH . Alternatively, when the exhaust gas temperature G flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature _GTH , the normal NOx purge control is performed.

The predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH here are threshold values for determining whether or not the NOx occlusion action in the NOx trap catalyst 9 is in a lowered state, for example within a range of 400 to 650 [° C.]. Is set arbitrarily. For example, the minimum temperature at which the NOx occlusion rate of the NOx trap catalyst 9 to the occlusion material is less than a predetermined rate may be set as the predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH , and the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is the predetermined purification rate E _TH. The minimum temperature that is less than the predetermined temperature may be the predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH .

  The driving method of the exhaust pipe injector 7 by the normal control unit 4 is PWM control. The normal control unit 4 generates a drive signal for setting the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9 to the target air-fuel ratio, and outputs it to the in-pipe injector 7.

The duty ratio of the drive signal is set to a value corresponding to the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ rich period R _0. Therefore, when the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ of the average target air-fuel ratio or rich period R ₀ is changed, the pulse width of the drive signal is adjusted to increase or decrease direction. For example, the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ rich period R ₀ shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 (b) is changed to a rich direction, and is a predetermined value AF ₃ indicated by broken lines. At this time, the normal control unit 4 increases the pulse width of the drive signal from the state indicated by the solid line to the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3A, and performs control to ensure the required fuel injection amount. To do. Therefore, the rich period R ₀ during normal NOx purge control is basically constant regardless of the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ at that time (even if the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ varies).

The short cycle control unit 5 (short cycle control means) performs short cycle NOx purge control. Here, when the catalyst temperature T or the exhaust gas temperature G of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is in a temperature range exceeding the predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH (that is, the catalyst temperature range where the NOx occlusion rate is less than the predetermined rate), the short period NOx purge control is implemented.

As described above, the method of setting the predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH is arbitrary, but the NOx purification rate E when the normal NOx purge control is performed and the NOx purification rate E when the short-cycle NOx purge control is performed Based on this, the predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH may be set. The solid line in FIG. 4 (a) is a graph showing the relationship between the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 and the catalyst temperature T when the short-cycle NOx purge control is performed, and the broken line is the normal NOx purge control time. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between NOx purification rate E and catalyst temperature T. Further, the temperature T ₀ in the figure is the decomposition temperature of nitrate stored on the storage material of the NOx trap catalyst 9. Even when the catalyst temperature T described in FIG. 4A is replaced with the exhaust gas temperature G, the NOx trap catalyst 9 exhibits the same temperature-dependent characteristics.

For example, in the case of the NOx trap catalyst 9 in which barium is supported as an occlusion material, about 592 [° C.], which is the decomposition temperature (melting point) of barium nitrate [Ba (NO ₃ ) ₂ ], corresponds to the temperature T ₀ . Barium nitrate, the catalyst temperature T is stored in the NOx trap catalyst 9 at a temperature T ₀ or more areas Shiezu and the higher adsorption rate decreases near the catalyst temperature T is a temperature T ₀ even in a region lower than the temperature T ₀ . Therefore, in the normal NOx purge control, the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 decreases as the catalyst temperature T increases.

On the other hand, in the short-cycle NOx purge control, not only the NOx occlusion action but also the adsorption action is used, and NOx retention and reduction are repeated in a short period. Thus, NOx is reduced even in the region where the catalyst temperature T is equal to or higher than the temperature T ₀ , and a high NOx purification rate E is obtained. Therefore, by setting the temperature T ₁ of which is a point of intersection between the solid line and the broken line to a predetermined temperature T _TH, G _TH, even when carried out any control, the NOx purification rate E FIGS. 4 (a) in the It becomes possible to maintain the purification rate E ₁ or more.

Similarly, predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH are set based on the NOx concentration in the exhaust detected by the NOx sensor 17 when the normal NOx purge control is performed and the NOx concentration during the short-cycle NOx purge control. May be. The solid line in FIG. 4B is a graph showing the relationship between the NOx concentration and the catalyst temperature T when the short-cycle NOx purge control is performed, and the broken line shows the NOx concentration and the catalyst temperature T during the normal NOx purge control. It is a graph which shows the relationship. Regardless of which control is performed by setting the temperature T ₂ at the intersection of the solid line and the broken line to the predetermined temperatures T _TH and G _TH , the NOx concentration is the predetermined concentration in FIG. 4B. Y can be maintained within the range of ₁ or less. Alternatively, when the discharge level of the required NOx concentration is a predetermined concentration Y _2, and the NOx concentration in the normal NOx purge control to set the temperature T ₃ exceeding a predetermined concentration Y ₂ given temperature T _TH, the G _TH Also good.

The driving method of the in-pipe injector 7 by the short cycle control unit 5 is single control. The short cycle control unit 5 generates a drive signal having a pulse width C ₁ having the same length as the rich period R ₁ of short cycle NOx purge control, and outputs this to the injector 7 in the exhaust pipe. This drive signal corresponds to a drive signal having a duty ratio of 100 [%] in PWM control.

Rich period R ₁ short period NOx purge control is set to a length corresponding to the target air-fuel ratio at that time. Therefore, when the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ of the average target air-fuel ratio or rich period R ₁ is changed, the length of the rich period R ₁ itself is adjusted to increase or decrease direction. For example, when the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ is changed in the rich direction, the increase amount of the reducing agent to be supplied into the exhaust pipe is calculated in a time corresponding to the total of the rich period R ₁ and the lean period L _1. rich period R ₁ is extended so as to correspond to the increase. That is, the rich period R ₁ indicated by a solid line in FIG. 3C is extended to become a rich period R ₁ ′ indicated by a broken line.

The recovery control unit 6 (recovery control means) replaces the short cycle NOx purge control when the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 falls below a predetermined purification rate _ETH during the execution of the short cycle NOx purge control. Recovery control is performed. That is, the recovery control in a state where the catalyst temperature T of the NOx trap catalyst 9 exceeds a predetermined temperature T _TH, NOx purification rate E is performed when less than the predetermined purification rate E _TH. In other words, the short-cycle NOx purge control in a state where the catalyst temperature T of the NOx trap catalyst 9 exceeds a predetermined temperature T _TH, NOx purification rate E is performed when more than a predetermined purification rate E _TH. When the NOx purification rate E recovers, the recovery control ends, and either normal NOx purge control or short cycle NOx purge control is performed according to the subsequent catalyst temperature T.

Further, recovery control section 6 sets the lean period L ₂ of the recovery control in accordance with the catalyst temperature T or the exhaust temperature G. Here, for example, the lean period L ₂ is extended as the catalyst temperature T increases so that the catalyst temperature T does not reach the heat-resistant temperature T _{MAX of the} catalyst (where T _TH <T _MAX ), and the catalyst temperature T lean period L ₂ is shortened as is at a low temperature. Accordingly, the catalyst temperature T during recovery control is maintained within the range from the predetermined temperature T _TH to heat the temperature T _MAX.

Note that control hunting may be suppressed by making the threshold of the NOx purification rate E for starting the recovery control different from the threshold of the NOx purification rate E for ending the recovery control. For example, the former threshold value E _TH1 may be set smaller than the latter threshold value E _TH2 (E _TH1 <E _TH2 ). With such a control configuration, the control stability of short cycle NOx purge control and recovery control is improved.

The driving method of the exhaust pipe injector 7 by the recovery control unit 6 is PWM control as in the normal control unit 4. The recovery control unit 6 generates a drive signal for making the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9 the target air-fuel ratio, and outputs it to the in-pipe injector 7. Duty ratio of the driving signal is set to a value corresponding to the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ rich period R _2. Therefore, when the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ of the average target air-fuel ratio or rich period R ₂ is changed, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), (b) , the pulse width of the drive signal is adjusted to increase or decrease direction The

[4. flowchart]
FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating procedures related to determination of execution conditions for normal NOx purge control, short-cycle NOx purge control, and recovery control performed by the control device 1, respectively. These flows are repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle (for example, a cycle of several seconds or less) set in advance.

[4-1. Recovery based on estimated NOx purification rate]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for determining the recovery control execution condition using the NOx purification rate E calculated based on the NOx concentration detected by the NOx sensor 17. Symbol F in this flow is a recovery control execution flag, which is set to F = 1 during the execution of the recovery control and set to F = 0 during the non-execution. The initial value of the flag F is F = 0.

  In step A10, the exhaust gas temperature G detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 16 is input to the control device. This exhaust temperature G is the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9. Further, in the subsequent step A20, the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is calculated in the purification rate calculation unit 3. Here, the NOx purification rate E is calculated based on the NOx concentration in the exhaust gas detected by the NOx sensor 17.

In step A30, it is determined whether or not the exhaust gas temperature G input in step A10 exceeds a predetermined temperature _GTH . That is, in this step, it is determined whether or not the NOx occlusion rate of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is in a temperature region that is less than a predetermined rate. If the inequality “exhaust temperature G> predetermined temperature G _TH ” is satisfied, the process proceeds to step A40, and if not, the process proceeds to step A70.

In step A70, the normal control unit 4 performs normal NOx purge control, and the control in this cycle ends. Therefore, when the exhaust gas temperature G is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature _GTH , the short cycle NOx purge control and the recovery control are not performed, and the normal NOx purge control is continued.
In this normal NOx purge control, the exhaust pipe injector 7 is controlled such that the number of injections in one rich period _R0 is plural. Thereby, the average air-fuel ratio in the rich period R ₀ is accurately controlled, and the NOx occlusion action and the reduction action are appropriately repeated.

On the other hand, in step A40, it is determined whether or not the flag F is F = 0. Here, when the recovery control is not being performed (when F = 0), the process proceeds to step A50, and when the recovery control is being performed (when F = 1), the process proceeds to step A60.
In step A50, it is determined whether or not the NOx purification rate E calculated in step A20 exceeds a threshold value _ETH1 . Here, when the inequality “NOx purification rate E> threshold E _TH1 ” is satisfied, it is determined that the NOx purification rate E in the short cycle NOx purge control is still sufficiently high, and the process proceeds to Step A80. If the inequality “NOx purification rate E> threshold E _TH1 ” is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step A100.

In step A80, since the condition for executing the recovery control is not satisfied, the flag F is set to F = 0. Further, in the subsequent step A90, the short cycle NOx purge control is performed in the short cycle control unit 5, and the control in this cycle is finished. When the exhaust temperature G exceeds a predetermined temperature G _TH as long as the NOx purification ratio E exceeds the threshold value E _TH1, control short period NOx purge is continued.
In the short cycle NOx purge control, the valve opening time of the injector 7 in the exhaust pipe is controlled so that the number of injections becomes one in _one rich period R1. As a result, the instantaneous air-fuel ratio during the rich period R ₁ is relatively enriched, and the generation of the active reducing agent is promoted.

When the short cycle NOx purge control is continued, the NOx purification rate E decreases as shown in FIG. When the NOx purification rate E decreases to the threshold value E _TH1 or less, the inequality “NOx purification rate E> threshold value E _TH1 ” is not established in step A50, and the process proceeds to step A100. At step A100, the recovery control section 6, the lean period L ₂ in accordance with the exhaust temperature G is set. In step A110, the flag F is set to F = 1. In step A120, the recovery control is performed, and the control in this cycle ends. That is, when the exhaust gas temperature G exceeds the predetermined temperature G _TH and the NOx purification rate E becomes equal to or less than the threshold value E _TH1 , recovery control is performed. As a result, the NOx purification rate E is recovered.

In recovery control, as in normal NOx purge control, injection frequency in one rich period R ₂ is an exhaust pipe injector 7 is controlled to span multiple times. Thus, the average air-fuel ratio of the rich period R ₂ is accurately controlled, reducing action of NOx is promoted.
In the control cycle after the next time, the process proceeds from step A40 to step A60. In Step A60, it is determined whether or not the NOx purification rate E calculated in Step A20 is equal to or less than a threshold value _ETH2 . Here, when the inequality “NOx purification rate E ≦ threshold E _TH2 ” is satisfied, it is determined that the NOx purification rate E has not sufficiently recovered yet, and the process proceeds to Step A100.

In this case, recovery control is continuously performed. On the other hand, when the inequality “NOx purification rate E ≦ threshold E _TH2 ” is not established, it is determined that the NOx purification rate E has sufficiently recovered, the process proceeds to step A80, the flag F is set to F = 0 again, and the step In A90, the short cycle NOx purge control is resumed.

[4-2. Recovery based on control time]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for switching between these controls using the NOx purification rate E determined based on the execution times of the short-cycle NOx purge control and the recovery control. Symbols A and B in this flow are variables corresponding to the cumulative execution time of the short cycle NOx purge control and the cumulative execution time of the recovery control, respectively, and their initial values are both zero.

In step B10, the exhaust gas temperature G detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 16 is input to the control device. In the following step B30, it is determined whether or not the exhaust gas temperature G input in the previous step exceeds a predetermined temperature _GTH . If the inequality “exhaust temperature G> predetermined temperature G _TH ” is satisfied, the process proceeds to step B40, and if not, the process proceeds to step B50.

In step B50, the normal control unit 4 performs normal NOx purge control. In the subsequent step B60, the accumulated execution times A and B are both reset to A = 0 and B = 0, and the control in this cycle ends. Therefore, when the exhaust gas temperature G is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature _GTH , the short cycle NOx purge control and the recovery control are not performed, and the normal NOx purge control is continued.

On the other hand, in step B40, it is determined whether or not the cumulative execution time A of the short cycle NOx purge control is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time _ATH . Here, when the inequality “cumulative execution time A ≦ predetermined time A _TH ” is satisfied, it is determined that the NOx purification rate E in the short-cycle NOx purge control is still sufficiently high, and the process proceeds to step B70.

In Step B70, short cycle NOx purge control is performed in the short cycle control unit 5. In the subsequent step B80, the cumulative execution time A of the short cycle NOx purge control is calculated, and the control in this cycle is completed. Here, for example, a value obtained by adding a time corresponding to the calculation cycle of this flowchart to the cumulative execution time A at that time is calculated as a new cumulative execution time A. Thus, during implementation of the short-cycle NOx purge control increased cumulative execution time A gradually, its value is controlled at the time exceeds the predetermined time A _TH proceeds from step B40 to step B90.

In step B90, the recovery control section 6, the lean period L ₂ in accordance with the exhaust temperature G is set, recovery control in the subsequent step B100 is executed. In step B110, the cumulative execution time B of the recovery control is calculated. Here, as in step B80, a value obtained by adding a time corresponding to the calculation cycle of this flowchart to the cumulative execution time B at that time is calculated as a new cumulative execution time B. Therefore, the cumulative execution time B gradually increases during the recovery control.

In subsequent step B120, it is determined whether or not the cumulative execution time B exceeds a predetermined time _BTH . Here, if the inequality “cumulative execution time B> predetermined time B _TH ” is satisfied, the process proceeds to step B130, and if it is not satisfied, the control in this cycle is terminated. As described above, when the execution time of the short-cycle NOx purge control is prolonged, the recovery control is started, and the recovery is performed unless the exhaust gas temperature G exceeds the predetermined temperature G _TH and the cumulative execution time B does not exceed the predetermined time B _TH. Control continues.

When the cumulative execution time B of the recovery control exceeds the predetermined time B _TH , the control proceeds from step B120 to step B130, and the two cumulative execution times A and B are reset. Accordingly, if the exhaust gas temperature G still exceeds the predetermined temperature G _TH in the subsequent calculation cycle, the process proceeds from step B40 to steps B70 and B80, and the short cycle NOx purge control is resumed.

[5. Action]
[5-1. Control action during vehicle travel]
The control action of the exhaust emission control device during vehicle travel will be described. FIGS. 7A to 7E show the control action of the exhaust purification device that determines the execution condition of the recovery control using the NOx purification rate E (implementing the flowchart shown in FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the exhaust temperature G of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx trapping catalyst 9 at time t ₀ is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature G _TH, normal NOx purge control is performed. In the normal NOx purge control, as shown in FIG. 7E, the target air-fuel ratio is controlled to periodically change in the rich direction and the lean direction, and the NOx occlusion operation to the NOx trap catalyst 9 and the reduction of the NOx are performed. The operation is repeated. The cycle in which the target air-fuel ratio oscillates in the normal NOx purge control is longer than that in other controls.

When the exhaust gas temperature G rises during the normal NOx purge control and approaches the predetermined temperature _GTH , the NOx occlusion action of the NOx trap catalyst 9 decreases and the NOx purification rate E decreases. On the other hand, when the exhaust gas temperature G exceeds the predetermined temperature G _TH at time t ₁ , the execution condition of the short cycle NOx purge control is established as shown in FIG. 7B, and the short cycle control unit 5 performs the short cycle NOx purge control. Is implemented.

In the short cycle NOx purge control, as shown in FIG. 7E, the target air-fuel ratio is controlled to change in a shorter cycle than the normal NOx purge control. Thereby, NOx adsorbed on the NOx trap catalyst 9 is purified in small units. In the short cycle NOx purge control, the valve opening time of the in-pipe injector 7 is controlled so that the number of injections is one in _one rich period R1. As a result, the instantaneous air-fuel ratio during the rich period R ₁ is relatively enriched, and the generation of the active reducing agent is promoted. Therefore, a good NOx purification rate E equivalent to that during normal NOx purge control is maintained.

When the short cycle NOx purge control is continued for a long time, the NOx purification rate E decreases as shown in FIG. Execution condition of the recovery control NOx purification ratio E becomes equal to or less than the threshold E _TH1 is satisfied time t _2, the as shown in FIG. 7 (d), execution flag F is set to F = 1, the recovery control section 6 Recovery control is performed at

In the recovery control, as shown in FIG. 7 (e), the rich target period is extended as compared with the short-cycle NOx purge control, and the average target air-fuel ratio is controlled so that the average oxygen concentration is 1.0 [%] or less. . As a result, the atmosphere in the vicinity of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is maintained in a reducing atmosphere, and the NOx purification rate E in the NOx trap catalyst 9 is recovered as shown in FIG.
When NOx purification rate E is restored to greater than the threshold value E _TH2 at the time t _3, execution conditions of the recovery control is not satisfied, execution flag F is set to F = 0. At this time, the execution condition of the short cycle NOx purge control is satisfied again, and the short cycle control unit 5 performs the short cycle NOx purge control.

Thereafter, when the NOx purification rate E becomes equal to or less than the threshold value E _TH1 during the execution of the short-cycle NOx purge control (time t ₄ ), the recovery control is performed each time, and when the NOx purification rate E recovers until it exceeds the threshold value E _TH2 ( Time t ₅ ) Short cycle NOx purge control is resumed. In this way, the recovery control is performed by being inserted between the short cycle NOx purge control when the NOx purification rate E is reduced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7C, the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is maintained at a high level. Further, since the lean period L ₂ of the recovery control is extended higher exhaust temperature G, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), exhaust gas temperature G flowing into the NOx trapping catalyst 9 is also held substantially constant level, Overheating is suppressed.

Further, at time t ₆ the exhaust temperature G is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature G _TH, implementation conditions of short-cycle NOx purge control and recovery control is not satisfied, the normal NOx purge control as shown in FIG. 7 (e) carried out Is done. At this time, since the NOx occlusion action of the NOx trap catalyst 9 that has been weakened by the exhaust heat is restored, the NOx occlusion operation to the NOx trap catalyst 9 and the NOx reduction operation are appropriately repeated, and the NOx in the exhaust gas is exhausted. Is purified.

[5-2. Action by injector drive system]
FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C show test results regarding the driving method of the injector 7 in the exhaust pipe and the difference in its effect. The thick solid line in the figure corresponds to the fuel injected by PWM control. The other thin solid line, broken line, and alternate long and short dash line are obtained by arranging fuel injections by single-shot control in descending order of drive frequency. Both graphs show results in a region where the average air-fuel ratio becomes lean.

  FIG. 8A shows the relationship between the fuel injection amount per unit time and the average air-fuel ratio. FIG. 8A shows that the correlation between the average air-fuel ratio and the fuel injection amount is constant regardless of the drive method and drive frequency of the in-pipe injector 7. FIG. 8B also shows the same regarding the catalyst temperature T, and the correlation between the catalyst temperature T and the fuel injection amount is not affected by the drive method and drive frequency of the injector 7 in the exhaust pipe.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8C, the NOx purification rate E is superior to the single-shot control over the PWM control in the region where the fuel injection amount is relatively small (average lean tendency is strong). It can be seen that a high NOx purification rate E can be obtained. In the single control, gas mixing on the path from the exhaust pipe injector 7 to the NOx trap catalyst 9 is suppressed, and the instantaneous air-fuel ratio during the rich period R ₁ is relatively enriched. As a result, partial oxidation of hydrocarbons is promoted, and the NOx purification rate E is significantly improved as compared with PWM control with the same fuel consumption.

Further, thin solid line in FIG. 8 (c), the broken line, the best results one-dot chain line indicates the out of dashed line are those having the lowest drive frequency, i.e., the most one of the rich period R ₁ It's long. From this, it is considered that as the continuous valve opening time of the in-pipe injector 7 is maintained, gas mixing is weakened and partial oxidation of hydrocarbons is promoted, and the NOx purification rate E is improved.

[6. effect]
(1) In the exhaust gas purifying apparatus, the fuel injection number in a short period NOx purge control is a once every rich period R _1, temporarily increases enriching the the NOx trap catalyst 9 activity reducing agent The production of (eg, partially oxidized HC) can be promoted. Thereby, NOx occluded in the NOx trap catalyst 9, adsorbed NOx, NOx in the vicinity of the catalyst surface and the like can be efficiently reduced, and the NOx purification rate even if the cycle for vibrating the target air-fuel ratio is short. E can be improved. Therefore, for example, a higher NOx purification rate E can be obtained as compared with a case where the number of fuel injections is divided into a plurality of times as in normal NOx purge control.

  Further, in the normal NOx purge control, NOx purification using the occlusion action of the NOx trap catalyst 9 can be performed as in a conventional exhaust purification device. On the other hand, in the short cycle NOx purge control, in addition to or instead of the NOx purification by the occlusion action, NOx adsorbed on the NOx trap catalyst 9 can be purified in small units. Therefore, the NOx purification rate E can be improved regardless of which control is performed.

(2) Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, even if the fuel injection amount per unit time is the same, the NOx purification rate is higher in the single control than in the PWM control in a high temperature environment. E improves. Utilizing such characteristics, in the above exhaust purification apparatus, the short-cycle NOx purge control is performed when the exhaust gas temperature G of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9 is _{equal to} or higher than a predetermined temperature _GTH . As described above, by properly using the normal NOx purge control and the short cycle NOx purge control using the temperature characteristics of the NOx trap catalyst 9, the amount of fuel required to obtain a high level of NOx purification rate E can be reduced, and the fuel consumption can be reduced. Deterioration rate can be reduced.

(3) Further, in the above exhaust gas purifying device, in the normal control, FIG. 3 (a), the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ rich period R ₀ is controlled by adjusting the duty ratio as shown in (b) . Thereby, in the normal control, the air-fuel ratio can be accurately controlled while the air-fuel ratio fluctuation period is kept constant.

On the other hand, in the short period NOx purge control, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the target air-fuel ratio AF ₂ rich period R ₁ is controlled by adjusting the period during which the exhaust pipe injector 7 by single control is opened The Further, gas mixing on the path from the exhaust pipe injector 7 to the NOx trap catalyst 9 is suppressed, and the instantaneous air-fuel ratio is temporarily enriched. Thereby, partial oxidation of oxygenated carbon in the fuel can be promoted, and the concentration in the exhaust of the highly active reducing agent component can be increased. Therefore, the NOx purification rate E during the short cycle NOx purge control can be improved.

(4) Further, in the above exhaust purification device, recovery control is performed when the NOx purification rate E in the NOx trap catalyst 9 is reduced by the short-cycle NOx purge control. By this recovery control, the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 can be recovered while NOx is reduced by the NOx trap catalyst 9, and high purification performance can be maintained.
In particular, in the above exhaust purification apparatus, the short cycle NOx purge control is performed when the exhaust gas temperature G flowing into the NOx trap catalyst 9 is in a temperature region exceeding the predetermined temperature _GTH . When the exhaust gas temperature G becomes high, the nitrate is likely to be thermally dissociated and melted, and the amount of NOx stored in the NOx trap catalyst 9 is reduced. In addition, nitrate is decomposed or reacts with hydrocarbons to easily generate compounds, and the NOx storage amount is further reduced. Thereby, the NOx occlusion action of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is lowered.

On the other hand, even if the exhaust gas temperature G is high, the NOx adsorption action on the NOx trap catalyst 9 continues with a small amount. Therefore, even when the catalyst is at a high temperature at which the NOx occlusion action of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is reduced, the NOx adsorbed on the NOx trap catalyst 9 is purified in a short period to ensure a good NOx purification rate E. be able to.
Further, in the above exhaust gas purifying device is a fuel injection method for recovery control is PWM control, i.e., the exhaust pipe injector so that the fuel injection number is several times during a single rich period R ₂ at the time recovery control 7 is driven. Thereby, the control accuracy of the air-fuel ratio during the recovery control can be improved.

(5) Further, in the above exhaust purification apparatus, the average target air-fuel ratio at the time of recovery control is maintained at stoichiometric or rich. That is, the average air-fuel ratio is controlled to be richer than that in the short cycle NOx purge control. Thereby, the reduction action with respect to NOx occluded in the NOx trap catalyst 9, adsorbed NOx, and NOx in the vicinity of the catalyst can be promoted. Therefore, NOx can be efficiently reduced, and the NOx purification rate E can be quickly recovered.
Further, since the NOx purification rate E of the NOx trap catalyst 9 is quickly recovered, the short cycle NOx purge control can be resumed. Therefore, even if the exhaust gas temperature G is high for a long time, the state where the NOx purification rate E is constantly high can be maintained.

  (6) Further, in the above exhaust purification device, the average target air-fuel ratio at the time of the short-cycle NOx purge control is maintained lean, so that the average fuel injection amount can be reduced and the fuel consumption can be improved. In addition, when the average target air-fuel ratio during short-cycle NOx purge control is set to the same value as the average target air-fuel ratio during normal NOx purge control, the NOx purification rate is increased without reducing the theoretical fuel consumption. be able to.

  When the air-fuel ratio is actually changed from lean to rich, useless fuel corresponding to the fuel amount for canceling the response delay of the air-fuel ratio is required. For this reason, as the number of times of changing the air-fuel ratio per unit time increases (as the cycle for changing the air-fuel ratio is shortened), the waste fuel increases and the fuel consumption slightly deteriorates. Therefore, in order to further improve the fuel efficiency, the normal NOx purge control may be preferentially performed as long as the required NOx purification rate E is ensured. In the exhaust purification apparatus described above, since NOx purge control is normally performed except when the catalyst temperature is high, where the NOx purification rate E decreases, fuel efficiency can be improved.

(7) Further, in the above exhaust purification apparatus, the lean period L ₂ during the recovery control is set according to the exhaust gas temperature G. For example, exhaust gas temperature G is lean period L ₂ The more at high temperatures is extended, the exhaust gas temperature G is lean period L ₂ The more at low temperature is reduced.
Thereby, the NOx purification rate E can be recovered while suppressing the excessive temperature rise of the NOx trap catalyst 9 during the recovery control. Particularly, in the recovery control, the average target air-fuel ratio is controlled to be richer than that in the short-cycle NOx purge control, so that the exhaust temperature G is likely to rise and an excessive temperature rise is likely to occur. On the other hand, since the excessive temperature rise during the recovery control is suppressed, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), it becomes easy to maintain the exhaust gas temperature G substantially constant in a state where it exceeds the predetermined temperature _GTH .

  (8) Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the recovery control is performed using the NOx purification rate E calculated based on the NOx concentration, the NOx purification rate E in the NOx trap catalyst 9 is reduced. It can be accurately grasped, and the start timing of the recovery control can be appropriately controlled. Further, the control based on the NOx purification rate E makes it possible to optimize the number of times of recovery control with a relatively large amount of fuel consumption, and to suppress a reduction in fuel consumption.

  (9) Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the recovery control is performed using the NOx purification rate E determined based on the cumulative execution time A of the short cycle NOx purge control, the control configuration is simplified. The timing for starting the recovery control can be appropriately controlled.

[7. Modified example]
In the above-described embodiment, the engine 10 including the oxidation catalyst 8 and the NOx trap catalyst 9 on the exhaust passage 15 is exemplified. However, in performing the normal NOx purge control, the short cycle NOx purge control, and the recovery control described above, The oxidation catalyst 8 can be omitted. If the engine 10 is provided on the exhaust passage 15 with a catalyst having a function of storing at least NOx in the exhaust gas in an oxidizing atmosphere and reducing it in a reducing atmosphere, the above exhaust purification device can be applied. Is possible. The exhaust purification device described above can also be applied to the engine 10 in which a diesel particulate filter, a fuel component trap catalyst, and the like are provided on the exhaust passage 15.

Moreover, although the system which purifies the exhaust_gas | exhaustion of the diesel engine 10 was illustrated in the above-mentioned embodiment, the kind of engine used as an application object of said exhaust gas purification apparatus is not limited to this, For example, a gasoline engine, a lean burn engine, etc. It can also be applied to.
Further, the specific apparatus configuration described in the above embodiment can be implemented with various modifications. For example, the exhaust temperature sensor 16 and the NOx sensor 17 may be omitted, and a calculation configuration for estimating the catalyst temperature T, the exhaust temperature G, the NOx concentration, and the NOx purification rate E based on various parameters corresponding to the operating state of the engine 10 may be adopted. . Alternatively, the arrangement positions of these sensors may be changed.

Further, instead of using the exhaust temperature sensor 16, the exhaust temperature G may be detected based on the valve opening time or valve closing time of the in-pipe injector 7. That is, usually rich period R ₀ during NOx purge control, the lean period L _0, the rich period R ₁ at control short period NOx purge, a lean period L _1, the rich period R ₂ at the time recovery control, such as the lean period L _2, The exhaust gas temperature G is estimated and calculated based on the actual fuel supply time and the non-supply time.

In addition to the information on these times, information on the operating state of the engine 10 (fuel injection amount, engine rotation speed, intake air flow rate, engine load, outside air temperature, engine temperature, etc.) is used to estimate the exhaust gas temperature G. The accuracy is further improved.
With such a calculation configuration, the exhaust gas temperature sensor 16 can be omitted, the device configuration can be simplified, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and, for example, the compatibility with a vehicle type that does not have a temperature sensor in the exhaust system is improved. be able to.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the fuel injection method at the time of recovery control is PWM control, but instead of this, single control may be performed. That is, the number of valve openings during the recovery control may be set once for each rich period. By such control, partial oxidation of hydrocarbons in the exhaust can be promoted even during recovery control, and the NOx purification rate E can be recovered more rapidly.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the example of determining the execution condition of the recovery control using two methods is illustrated, but it is also possible to combine these methods. It is. For example, a control configuration in which these methods are switched according to the operating conditions of the engine 10 may be adopted, or a control configuration in which one of the methods is selected according to the exhaust temperature G or the NOx purification rate E may be employed. Good. Or it is good also as a control structure which implements control which used these two methods together, and both determination results corresponded. In this case, both methods can coexist without contradiction if the control configuration is such that when either of the determination results does not match, priority is given to one of the determination results.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the short-cycle NOx purge is performed in a temperature region where the exhaust temperature G of the NOx trap catalyst 9 exceeds the predetermined temperature _GTH (that is, a temperature region where the NOx occlusion rate is less than the predetermined rate). Although illustrated, the implementation condition of the short cycle NOx purge control is not limited to this. That is, even in a temperature range where the NOx occlusion rate is not lowered, the NOx purification by the short cycle NOx purge control is possible. However, in the temperature range where the NOx occlusion action of the NOx trap catalyst 9 can be sufficiently expected, as described above, the normal NOx purge control is more advantageous in terms of fuel economy than the short-cycle NOx purge control.

In the above-described embodiment, the lean period L ₂ at the time of recovery control is set according to the exhaust gas temperature G. However, instead of the exhaust gas temperature G, the catalyst temperature T and various parameters of the engine 10 related to the catalyst temperature T are exemplified. it may be set lean period L ₂ at the time recovery control used. At least, by extending the catalyst temperature T, the lean period L ₂ in the operating condition where the exhaust gas temperature G is likely to increase, it is possible to suppress the excessive temperature rise of the NOx trap catalyst 9.

  Similarly, instead of the exhaust temperature G, which is one of the conditions for performing the short-cycle NOx purge control and the recovery control, the catalyst temperature T and various parameters of the engine 10 correlated therewith may be used. Even when these parameters are used, it is possible to accurately grasp the state in which the NOx purification rate of the NOx trap catalyst 9 has decreased, and the recovery control execution time is inserted between the short cycle NOx purge control. NOx purification rate can be recovered.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control apparatus 2 Catalyst temperature calculating part 3 Purification rate calculating part 4 Normal control part (normal control means)
5 Short cycle control unit (short cycle control means)
6 Recovery control unit (recovery control means)
7 Exhaust pipe injector (injection valve)
9 NOx trap catalyst (catalyst)
10 engine

Claims (7)

A catalyst provided in the exhaust passage of the engine for storing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust in an oxidizing atmosphere and reducing it in a reducing atmosphere;
An injection valve provided in the exhaust passage upstream of the catalyst and supplying the nitrogen oxide reducing agent;
The air-fuel ratio with periodically changing the first rich period and the first lean period, the normal control for injecting the reducing agent is repeated multiple times opening and closing of Oite the injection valve to the first rich period Normal control means to implement,
The air-fuel ratio is periodically changed to the second rich period and the second lean period in a shorter cycle than the normal control, and the second rich period and the valve opening period of the injection valve are the same. As described above, an exhaust emission control device comprising short cycle control means for performing short cycle control. The normal control means performs the normal control when the exhaust temperature flowing into the catalyst is lower than a predetermined temperature,
The exhaust purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the short cycle control means performs the short cycle control when the exhaust temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature. The exhaust emission control device according to claim 2, wherein the normal control means and the short cycle control means estimate the exhaust temperature based on a valve opening time or a valve closing time of the injection valve. During the normal control, the injection valve is controlled by a ratio of a valve opening period and a valve closing period of the fuel injection valve in the first rich period,
The injection valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein during the short cycle control, the injection valve is controlled during the valve opening period of the fuel injection valve in the second rich period. Exhaust gas purification device described in 1. When the purification rate of the nitrogen oxides by the short cycle control is less than a predetermined purification rate, the rich period is extended longer than the short cycle control to periodically change the air-fuel ratio, and the injection in the rich period The exhaust emission control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising recovery control means for performing recovery control in which the number of injections from the valve is multiple. 6. The exhaust emission control device according to claim 5, wherein the recovery control means maintains the average air-fuel ratio during the recovery control at stoichiometric or rich. The said normal control means and the said short cycle control means maintain the average air fuel ratio in the said normal control and the said short cycle control in the lean, The any one of Claims 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Exhaust purification device.

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